Towing vehicle

ABSTRACT

A towing vehicle characterized by a wheel mounted framework having a downwardly disposed vehicle receiving member, where winch means move a crossmember to which the towed vehicle is secured, and where support chains extending between a portion of the framework and the crossmember assume the load of the towed vehicle upon release of the winch means.

United States Patent 1 Boster et al.

[ Sept. 18, 1973 TOWING VEHICLE [76] Inventors: Everett Boster, W. StarRt,

McLeansboro; James E. Willis, R.R.

' No. l, Ewing, both of I11.

[22] Filed: Mar. 22, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 126,842

52 us. Cl. 214/86 A, 254/139.1 511 Int. Cl 860p 3/12 [58] Field ofSearch 214/86 A; 254/139.1,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Newman 214/86 A 3,415,39712/1968 OBanion .,2l4/86A Primary ExdminerAlbert J. MakayAttorney-Warren D. Flackbert [57] ABSTRACT A towing vehiclecharacterized by a wheel mounted framework having a downwardly disposedvehicle re ceiving member, where winch means move a crossmember to whichthe towed vehicle is secured, and where support chains extending betweena portion of the framework and the crossmember assume the load of thetowed vehicle upon release of the winch means.

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ATTORNEY TOWING VEHICLE As is known, existing tow trucks, Wreckers orthe like are quite costly, not only in initial investement but in useand maintenance. The need has arisen for some type of towing vehicle fortransporting older cars, for example, from one location to another. Theneed should be satisfied by a relatively inexpensive structure capableof being readily secured to another vehicle, such as an automobile or asmall truck, for example, and having adaptability for ease in loadingthe towed vehicle as well as the safe transporting of such vehicle.

The present invention satisfies the aforedescribed requirements for alower cost yet highly effective towing vehicle. In this regard, andbriefly, the vehicle defining the invention comprises a framework havingconventional hitch means at one end thereof. An upstanding mast memberis disposed in the mid portion of the axle extending between the wheelsof the vehicle, where a winch mechanism, with its usual mechanicaladvantage, is disposed on the aforesaid framework and upstanding member.

A crossmember, to which the towed vehicle is secured, is moved throughthe operation of the winch mechanism, where the towed vehicle, intransporting position, moves along an inclined portion on the framework,so that the front thereof is elevated. The towed vehicle is readily andeffectively positioned for transporting and, conversely, is easilyreleased from the towing vehicle at the desired location. All of thepreceding is accomplished through a low cost structure, and one whichprovides important safety during use.

A better understanding of the invention will become more apparent fromthe following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein FIG.1 is a view in elevation, partly broken away,showing the towing vehicle defining the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view, also in elevation, of a portion of thewinch mechanism, removed from FIG. 1 to make the latter more clear inpresentation;

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation of the instant towing vehicle;

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section, taken at line 4--4 of FIG. 1 andlooking in the direction of the arrows, showing further details of theinvention; and,

FIG. 5 is a top plan view, partly fragmentary and partly incross-section, showing a stabilizing arrangement forming a detail of theinvention. For the purposes of promoting an understanding of theprinciples of the invention, reference will now be made to theembodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will beused to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that nolimitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, suchalterations and further modifications in the illustrateddevice, and suchfurther applications of the principles of the invention as illustratedtherein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in theart to which the invention relates.

Referring now to the figures, the towing vehicle of the inventioncomprises a framework 12 including an axle 12a for wheels 14, and aspine member 12b having conventional hitch means (not shown) at its freeend. A mast member 120 extends upwardly from the midarea of the axle12a, being positioned on such axle 12a through a web and plate assembly15 (see FIGS. 1 and 4).

A lower portion 15a of the aforesaid web and plate assembly 15 isdisposed, by welding, for example, on either side of the axle 12a, wherean upper portion 15b, forming part of the member 12c also throughwelding, for example, is positioned on lower portion 15a through nut andbolt assemblies 16. A series of staggered holes (evident by the brokenlines in the drawings) permit the ready positioning of the upper portion15b of the plate and web assembly 15 with respect to the lower portion15a, and, hence, the relative positioning of member 120.

The framework 12 is further completed through a strengthening member 12dwhich extends between the spine member 12b and the member 120. Adownwardly angling member 12e is secured to the member 12c, and servesto receive the towed vehicle during loading and transporting, to bediscussed further herebelow.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a winch mechanism 20 is providedhaving the usual crank member 20a which rolls or unrolls a cable 22, thelatter passing over a pulley 20b rotatably mounted on the top of mastmember 120. The cable 22 thereafter passes around another pulley 20c,and then to still another pulley 20d, the latter being positioned, byhook means 23 on a portion of the member 12c. The cable 22 then passesto the pulley 20c and supports same, where the preceding is conventionalin providing the desired mechanical advantage.

A crossmember 24 is positioned by structure about the pulley 20cthrough, typically, a hook member 25. The crossmember 24 has chains 27and 29 extending from its free ends, the latter serving to secure avehicle to be towed. Chains 31 and 33 extend from the upper portion ofthe member 12c to the free ends of the crossmember 24. As should beapparent from the drawings, the length of chains 31 and 33 employed maybe varied, as necessary. The crossmember 24 further includes a yoke 26and a pin 30, the yoke 26 encircling a portion of member 12c.

As to FIG. 5, a stabilizing-arrangement is provided for spine member12b, i.e., to minimize any lateral sway during use. In this connection,loops 30a are provided on axle 12a, while loops 30b are provided onspine member 12b. Typically, the aforesaid loops 30a and 30b are weldedinto position. Chains 32a and 32b, and associated turnbuckles 33a and33b, extend between loops 30a and 30b. The tightening of the turnbuckles33a and 33b tension the respective chains 32a and 32b, minimizing anysway of spine member 1211.

In use, with the towing vehicle: secured to a lightweight truck,automobile or the like, portions of the towed vehicle are secured bywrapping action of the chains 27 and 29. The preceding is typicallyaccomplished after the yoke 26 is released, through the re- Chains 31and 33 are then hooked to the desired length, and the winch mechanism 20is somewhat released, meaning that the chains 31 and 33 move intotension and assume the load of the towed vehicle.

When the desired location is reached, the reverse of the aforesaidprocedure accomplishes unloading action. In this regard, the winchmechanism 20 is tightened so that the cable 22 moves the crossmember 24upwardly, removing the tension and load on chains 31 and 33. The chains31 and 33 are then unhooked. The winch mechanism 20 is then operated tolower the vehicle along the angling member 12c, after, of course, thepin30 has been removed from the yoke 26. The chains 27 and 29 are thenremoved from the towed vehicle. When the towing vehicle is moved withouta towed vehicle, the yoke 26 and pin 30 are typically assembled tocontrol any unwanted movement of the crossmember 24.

From the preceding, it should be apparent that the invention provideseffective structure for loading, transporting and unloading a towedvehicle. Positive action accompanies the preceding, where safety andsturdiness is afforded. The towing vehicle described hereabove is, ofcourse, susceptible to various changes within the spirit of theinvention. For example, proportioning may be changed, other than chains31 and 33 employed, or the like. Thus, the above description should beconsidered illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the followingclaims:

We claim:

l. A towing vehicle comprising a wheel mounted framework including adownwardly and rearwardly angling mast member on which another vehiclerides, an upstanding member forming part of said framework, winch meansincluding a cable trained over the free end of the mast member, acrossmember connecting the free end of said winch means and movable withsaid cable, means disposed proximate the free ends of said crossmembersecuring said another vehicle to said crossmember, load carrying meansextending between portions of said upstanding mast member and proximatethe free ends of said crossmember, and structure on said frameworkmounting said upstanding mast member, said structure having an upperportion and a lower portion, each portion including apertures and meansfor selectively mounting said upper and lower portions with respect tothe other.

2. The towing vehicle of claim 1 where said framework includes aforwardly extending member, and where stabilizing means extend betweensaid forwardly extending member and on opposite sides thereof tootherportions of said vehicle.

3. The towing vehicle of claim 2 where said stabilizing means aredefined as chains.

1. A towing vehicle comprising a wheel mounted framework including adownwardly and rearwardly angling mast member on which another vehiclerides, an upstanding member forming part of said framework, winch meansincluding a cable trained over the free end of the mast member, acrossmember connecting the free end of said winch means and movable withsaid cable, means disposed proximate the free ends of said crossmembersecuring said another vehicle to said crossmember, load carrying meansextending between portions of said upstanding mast member and proximatethe free ends of said crossmember, and structure on said frameworkmounting said upstanding mast member, said structure having an upperportion and a lower portion, each portion including apertures and meansfor selectively mounting said upper and lower portions with respect tothe other.
 2. The towing vehicle of claim 1 where said frameworkincludes a forwardly extending member, and where stabilizing meansextend between said forwardly extending member and on opposite sidesthereof to other portions of said vehicle.
 3. The towing vehicle ofclaim 2 where said stabilizing means are defined as chains.